Difficult for women to relate

The recent decisions, and the articulated rationale at Star of the Sea Parish regarding female altar servers, have been upsetting to many. However, what I believe is even more upsetting is that archdiocesan leadership, which, given other recent developments, seems to have no difficulty with “command and control” approaches in guiding diocesan affairs, has simply said, “It’s up to the pastor.” One can only draw from this that there is no dispute at the diocesan level with the policies at Star of the Sea, and it almost appears as tacit approval and support of those policies. That is truly unfortunate. One of the great blessings in my life has been to live with three fine women, my wife of 40-plus years and our two daughters. To a person, they are all strong, intelligent, thoughtful and giving people who have been engaged in God’s work on earth … teaching young children at our parish school, counseling deeply troubled teenagers and adults, providing healing medical services, working with mentally challenged adults and helping in underserved communities. Events like this make it all the more difficult for women such as they are to relate to a church, with all-male senior leadership, that seems to continuously tell women that they are not quite equal and to “be quiet, sit down and do what your are told.” It’s all so sad.